Portable bassinet



Ap 1967 M. GOLDBERG PORTABLE BASSINET Filed April 27, 1965 United States Patent 3,311,934 PORTABLE BASSINET Morris I. Goldberg, 39 Locke Road, Newton, Mass. 02155 Filed Apr. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 451,148 3 Claims. (Cl. 5102) This invention relates to an infants portable bassinet of a type especially adapted for use both as a feeder and a sleeper. It especially relates to the provision in such a bassinet of means for positioning the mattress element thereof in such manner as to provide a reclining support for an infant.

Portable bassinets are widely used to carry small infants especially when away from home. They are light in weight and fold when not in use to a compact flat pack age. They are provided with leg elements so that they will stand off of the floor or ground to protect the child from drafts, pets, etc. and so that they may be placed on an available surface such for example, on a seat, a sofa or a table; or on a lawn or beach. Such bassinets are normally provided with a pair of carrying handles so that the bassinet even while holding the infant may easily be moved from one place to another.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a bassinet with a mattress member adapted optionally either to extend flat in the bottom portion of such a bassinet, or to cooperate with the carrying handles thereof to provide a reclining support adapted to support the infant in a reclining feeding position. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a portable bassinet with removable padded lining means adapted to cooperate with the walls of said bassinet and with said mattress member.

These and other objects of this invention may be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention and to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable bassinet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but partially in section and showing the mattress member in its alternate inclined position; and

FIG. 3 shows in perspective a portion of said mattress member.

The portable bassinet of the present invention comprises a rectangular rigid metal frame member 11 and a body member 12 of a suitable flexible fabric or plastic coated fabric. Body member 12 is conveniently fastened to frame 11 by passing the upper portion of the fabric forming body member 12 over the top of frame 11 and folding and attaching this portion back on the main portion of the body member 12. Body member 12 is generally rectangular in shape of similar dimensions to frame 11 with upstanding side walls of substantial depth in the order of 8 inches. In a typical bassinet frame member 11 is 13 /2" wide and 30 /2" long.

Generally U-shaped leg members 13 and 14 preferably formed of tubing are provided with the free end of the U-shaped leg member pivotally mounted at 15 and 16 respectively to the side of frame member 11 adjacent the opposite ends of the sides thereof in such manner that the bottom portion of each U-shaped leg member 13 and 14 extends generally parallel to the end portion of frame 11. In a typical bassinet pivots 15 and 16 are located about 3" from the end of frame 11 and leg members 13 and 14 are about 15" high and 16" wide.

A folding brace member 17 is provided at each intersection of a free end of leg member 13 and 14 with frame member 11. Brace member 17 is adapted to hold leg 13 or 14 as the case may be in a locked position wherein they extend generally perpendicular to frame 11, but is adapted to fold to permit the leg members 13 or 14 to fold inwardly around pivots 15 or 16 to a position generally parallel to frame 11. Each said brace member 17 comprises a fiat member 18 pivotally mounted at 19 to frame 11 typically at a position about 4 /2" from pivot 15 or 16, a strap member 21 pivotally mounted at 22 to the side of leg 13 or 14 and a connecting member 23 which connects strap 18 to strap 21.

Connecting member 23 is an elongated U-shaped member adapted, when viewed in section, to pass up one side of either strap member 18 or strap member 21 across the top and down the other side. Connecting member 23 is of sufficient length to cover a substantial portion of the free ends of strap members 18 and 21. The free end of both strap members 18 and 21 is rounded at a radius, and the respective free ends of both straps 18 and 21 are pivotally mounted to an intermediate portion of connecting piece 23 through the center of such radius as indicated at 24 and 25 respectively. Thus mounted connecting member 23 not only hingedly connects the straps 18 and 21 but also acts as a locking member since each of the strap members 13 and 21 is free to pivot relative to connecting member 23 in only one direction, but is prevented from pivoting relative to connecting member 23 when the upper side of the respective strap member 18 or 21 comes in contact with the upper portion of connecting member 23.

A pair of carrying handles 26 and 27 which are preferably made of tubing are provided. Each carrying handle 26 and 27 is a U-shaped member with the free ends pivotally mounted from side to side on frame 11. Carrying handles 26 and 27 are conveniently mounted at pivots 19. Preferably carrying handles 26 and 27 are so proportioned that the connecting portion thereof, i.e., the base of the U, is in overlying contact with the respective ends of frame 11 when the handles are folded outwardly flat against frame 11. In a typical bassinet handles 26 and 27 are 7 /2" high and 14 /2" Wide.

Frame 11 may, if desired, be formed of two generally U-shaped members 28 and 29 joined at their free ends to form the rectangular frame 11. Half frame members 28 and 29 may conveniently be joined by a connecting member 33 which holds half frame elements 28 and 29 together rigidly.

The bassinet of the present invention is provided with a mattress member 54 adapted to be removably inserted in the bottom of body member 12, and to lie fiat adjacent thereto. Mattress member 54 comprises an upper covering 55 preferably formed from a flexible plastic coated fabric or plastic material, a lower covering 56 of similar fabric or material, a rigid or semi-rigid backing member 57 and a padding element 58 located between backing member 57 and upper covering 55. Padding element 58 may be formed of sponge or foamed elastomers (as shown in FIG. 3) or preferably from vegetable fibers or animal hair. The upper covering 55 and the lower covering 56 are preferably joined around the periphery of backing member 57 in such manner that a slight degree of slack exists around the edges. It is understood, of course, that upper covering 55 and lower covering 56 could, if desired, be formed from a single piece of fabric or material folded back on itself, or otherwise suitably shaped.

Backing member 57 while essentially rigid or semirigid, is provided with two laterally scored or hinged portions at 61 and 62 as indicated in FIG. 2 adapted to permit mattress member 54 to fold toward the padding 58 along these said portions. In a typical mattress member 54 which is 30 inches long fold line 61 is located about the mid-point or about 15 inches from each end of mattress member 54. Fold line 62 is located about 6 inches from one end. Thus mattress member 54 is divided into three parts, one extending about 50 percent of its total length, a second intermediate portion between fold line 61 and 62 extending about 30 percent of the total length, and a final end portion between fold line 62 and Q the adjacent end extending about 20 percent of the total length.

The back side of mattress member 54 is provided near the respective ends thereof with fastening means 63 and 64 adapted to releasably engage handles 26 and 27 respectively. As shown in detail in FIG. 3 each said fastening means 63 and 64 preferably comprises a base 65 and two upstanding arm portions 66 and 67 mounted on said base. Upstanding arm portions 66 and 67 are separated from each other by a distance equal to the diameter of handle 26 or 27. Each arm portion 66 and 67 near the end thereof is provided with an inwardly extending second portion 68 and 69 respectively whereby the gap remaining between the facing edges of second portion 68 and 69 is less than the maximum diameter of handles 26 or 27, whereby handles 26 and 27 will snap into engagement with fastening means 63 or 64 and be retained firmly therein. Fastening means 63 and 64 are preferably formed from a flexible plastic material and are attached to backing member 57 of mattress 54 by means such as rivets (not shown). In a typical mattress member 30 inches long fastening means 63 and 64 are located midway between the two sides of mattress member 54 with fastening means 63 located with a central axis about 1% inch from its respective end, and fastening means 64 located with a central axis about of an inch from its respective end.

When located as showin in FIG. 2 with fastening means 63 in engaging contact with handle 26 and fastening means 64 in engaging contact with handle 27 while both handles are resting fiat against frame 11, the long portion of mattress member 54 provides a sloping back support for the infant, While the short portion which depends substantially vertically from handle 27 prevents the infant from sliding around. This provides a desirable position for feeding the infant.

To prevent contact between frame 11 and the infant while the infant is in the reclining feeding position, a removable side pad 71 may be provided. Side pad 71 which comprises in essence a fabric, plastic or plasticeoated fabric envelope filled with padding material is adapted to extend across one end of frame 11 and a substantial distance down both sides of the bassinet between a point near the base of body member 12 and the top of frame 11. Cooperating fastening means such as snap fasteners 72 are provided mounted on body 12 and on a cooperating portion near the ends of pad 71 to keep pad 71 in the desired position.

I claim:

1. In an infants portable bassinet of the type comprising a frame, leg members suporting said frame, a flexible body member suported by said frame, and a pair of carrying handles pivotaly mounted on said frame and having a removable mattress element comprising a cover, a resilient padding member and a substantially rigid base portion, said mattress element adapted to cooperate with said body member and normally to lie fiat therein forming the bottom thereof, means for positioning the mattress element therein in such manner as to provide a reclining support for an infant said means comprising two transverse hinge means provided in the base portion of said mattress element one said hinge means located approximately midway between the two ends thereof and the other said hinge element located approximately midway between the first said hinge element and the adjacent end of said mattress element, said hinge element being adapted to permit the mattress element to be bent along said hinge portions at least toward said padding member and a pair of fastening means affixed to said base portion, on the side thereof away from said mattress element, one near each end thereof, each said fastening means adapted to cooperate with said carrying handles to retain said mattress element in the bent position.

2. An infants portable bassinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means each comprise a generally U-shaped member formed of a resilient material with the arms thereof spaced apart sufficiently to receive said handles, said arms each having an inwardly enlarged portion near the end thereof, the clearance between said opposing enlarged portions being less than the width of the said handles.

3. An infants portable bassinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flexible, padded, removable liner element adapted to extend across the back and part way down both sides of said body member is provided, said liner element being provided with a pair of fastening members, one near each end thereof, and said body member pro vided on each side thereof with a cooperating fastening member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,277,406 3/ 1942 Mahr 598 2,636,190 4/1953 Avila 5-98.2 2,709,478 5/1955 Golding et al. 5-94 2,990,007 6/1961 Kessler 297-457 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN INFANT''S PORTABLE BASSINET OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A FRAME, LEG MEMBERS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME, A FLEXIBLE BODY MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, AND A PAIR OF CARRYING HANDLES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND HAVING A REMOVABLE MATTRESS ELEMENT COMPRISING A COVER, A RESILIENT PADDING MEMBER AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID BASE PORTION, SAID MATTRESS ELEMENT ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID BODY MEMBER AND NORMALLY TO LIE FLAT THEREIN FORMING THE BOTTOM THEREOF, MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE MATTRESS ELEMENT THEREIN IN SUCH MANNER AS TO PROVIDE A RECLINING SUPPORT FOR AN INFANT SAID MEANS COMPRISING TWO TRANSVERSE HINGE MEANS PROVIDED IN THE BASE PORTION OF SAID MATTRESS ELEMENT ONE SAID HINGE MEANS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TOW ENDS THEREOF AND THE OTHER SAID HINGE ELEMENT LOCATED APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FIRST SAID HINGE ELEMENT AND THE ADJACENT END OF SAID MATTRESS ELEMENT, SAID HINGE ELEMENT BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT THE MATTRESS ELEMENT TO BE BENT ALONG SAID HINGE PORTIONS AT LEAST TOWARD SAID PADDING MEMBER AND A PAIR OF FASTENING MEANS AFFIXED TO SAID BASE PORTION, ON THE SIDE THEREOF AWAY FROM SAID MATTRESS ELEMENT, ONE NEAR EACH END THEREOF, EACH SAID FASTENING MEANS ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID CARRYING HANDLES TO RETAIN SAID MATTRESS ELEMENT IN BENT POSITION. 